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Naval victory off Algiers, Belgians repel Germans: WW1 dispatches

This story was originally published in the Toronto Daily Star on Aug. 5, 1914.

The front page of the Toronto Daily Star on Aug. 5, 1914.

By Star Staff

Tues., Aug. 5, 2014

To mark 100 years since the start of World War One, we're posting stories that ran in the Star, during this pivotal time in history. Explore the headlines and reports as the world came to grips with the outbreak of The Great War. Click here for more WW1 stories.

This story was originally published in the Toronto Daily Star on Aug. 5, 1914. Due to the quality of the records, some of the text of the stories were difficult to transcribe which accounts for some gaps in the story.

THE WAR DAY BY DAY

While mighty fleets and armies are engaged in hostile movements that will the whole [illegible] of history, an eager world must content itself with meager news of the situation. Direct cable communication with Germany was severed and it is quite [illegible] of possibility [illegible] all [illegible] to America will be [illegible] and that this continue will not learn a bout the results of a decisive engagement until a merchant vessel or warship runs the gauntlet of opposing fleets and brings word a [illegible] after it is common property in England. At the best, we will have to be content with what filters through the hands of the censor, and vainly imagine the nature of the news he withholds, all the time conscious of the fact that it is the very stuff we want to get.

The silence as regards naval operations is trying, in view of the magnitude of the issues at stake, but if no report of a battle at sea is officially announced within the next few days, it may be assumed that the German fleet found that it could not elude the British fleet or meet any part of it on terms that gave the German warships a chance of victory, and that it has taken shelter behind the German naval fortresses. The consequence would be an attempt to destroy British blockading battleships by means of submarines, mines, and torpedoes, a long, tedious process, and force a fight when the enemy’s fleet had been sufficiently weakened to warrant the hazard.

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That would be the course, in view of the preponderance of British naval strength, that naval strategy would dictate, but the military situation demands quick, hard blows on the part of both the army and navy of the Kaiser, and the public may soon learn that the German plan was to round the north of Scotland and menace the American grain route, and establish a naval base on the south coast of Ireland. Admiral Mahan, an American, and perhaps the greatest naval authority living, has always maintained that Germany would try to make Ireland a base for naval operations against England.

The Admiral admits that a British mine [illegible] was destroyed by the Germans. No doubt the vessel was engaged in laying mines for the protection of a port on the British coast.

Not only has Italy broken away from the Triple Alliance, but signs that [illegible] may take sides against Austria and Germany. The Kaiser has but to pursue the course with [illegible] that he did with countries to be sure of their hostility. In Italy’s case, it would be all the more [three illegible lines] than against it. If Italy joins France, their combined fleets [illegible] make short work of the Austrian navy.

Important news from the Adriatic should be available before long. As it is, the capture or destruction of three minor German cruisers in the west end of the Mediterranean is apparently a fact. The only other trustworthy naval news is that a German destroyer foundered off the coast of Denmark, owing to a boiler explosion, and that firing at sea was heard off the coast of Maine, where British, German and French cruisers, and some armed ships of the merchant marine are supposed to be. Japan officially declares that she will protect British colonies in the Pacific, but under no circumstances send her fleet or army to Europe.

The news, as to military movements point to the converging of two large German armies on Liege. In Belgium, Vise, a town to the north-[illegible] has been captured and fired by Germans while two German a[illegible] corps are at Herve, on the [illegible] Roads from these two places to join at Liege. The intention of the Germans is to break through into France and cut between Paris and the English Channel.

It may be taken for granted that French troops in force are now in Belgium and will offer firm resistance to the German advance. The advent of Britain in the struggle may upset Germans plans, particularly if the German fleet is destroyed and the war before a week passes resolve itself into one of defence with the German allies withdrawing the armies of invasion and desperately seeking to keep the foe away from the heart of their own country.

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